Device for dispensing material from a collapsible tube



Dec. 6, 1955 PQQCK 2,726,015

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING MATERIAL FROM A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed Dec. 50, 1952 INVENTOR. H E R MANJ. POOCK ATTORNEY DISPENSING MATERIAL FROM A COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Herman J. Poock, West Milton, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Everett E. Walker, West Milton, Ohio Application December 30, 1952, Serial No. 328,771 10 Claims. (Cl. 222-98) DEVICE FOR This invention relates to a device for dispensing material contained in a collapsible tube. Fluids of many types are sold in collapsible tubes. Materials contained in collapsible tubes serve many home and industrial pur poses.

It is very desirable to be able to dispense all of the fluid from within the tube. It is usually desirable to be able to dispense only a small amount of the material upon each occasion in which the material is used. It has always been'difiicult by manual squeezing of a tube to obtain exactly the desired amount of fluid from a collapsible tube. Usually more material than is needed is squeezed out when the tube is held in a persons hands. Of course, that method results in a considerable waste of the material. It is, also, desirable to have a dispenser which also acts as a holder or a place to keep the collapsible tube whether the tube is in use or not in use.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for holding a collapsible tube and for dispensing material from the collapsible tube.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for dispensing fluid from a collapsible tube, which device is easily operated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which dispenses material cleanly from the tube, leaving only a negligible amount of material remaining in the tube.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which can be easily operated to control the amount of fluid emanating from the collapsible tube.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apaprent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the dispensing device with a collapsible tube partially empty retained by the device.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the device holding a collapsible tube partially empty.

Figure/3 is a rear elevational view of the device.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the key member which is part of the dispensing device.

Figure 5 is an end view of the key member engaging the sealed end of a collapsible tube.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a preferred modification of the dispensing device.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a pin member used in holding together the two clamping members of the dispensing device.

The preferred embodiment of the dispensing device disclosed in the drawings includes two arcuate clamping members 10 and 12. The clamping members 10 and 12 are pivotally attached together by means of a retain- -ing pin 14. The retaining pin 14 has a knurled head 16. The retaining pin 14 is inserted through aligned apertures in arms 18 and flanges 20. The end of the retaining pin 14 which is opposite the head 16 is split by a slot 17 and spread slightly so that the pin 14 may 'ice be held in the inserted position. The arms 18 are located at either end of the clamping member 12 and are integral with'the clamping member 12.

The flanges 20 are located at either end of the clamping member 10 and are integral with the clamping member 10. Also, integral with the arcuate clamping member 10 is a mounting bracket 22 which is a plate having twosubstantially right angle bends therein. In one portion of the mounting bracket 22 are formed a pluralityof mounting holes 24 adapted to receive nails, hooks or screws for mounting of the dispensing device. Integral with the arcuate clamping member 12 is a plate 26 which diverges from the bracket 22.

A conventional collapsible tube 30 containing a fluidmaterial has a sealed end formed by a joint 32. The tube 30 has an uncapped mouth 33. The end having the joint 32 is inserted through the slot formed between arcuate clamping members 10 and 12. Y

A key member 40 having a tubular portion 42 and a wing 44 serves several purposes. One of the purposes is to aid in holding the collapsible tube in position. The tubular portion 42 is provided with a longitudinal slot 46. The slot 46 is so positioned that by longitudinal movement of the key member, the tubular portion '42 may be moved over the joint 32 so as to encircle-the joint 32, as best shown in Figure 5. However, in Figure 5, the clamping members 10 and .12 are not shown. The jointed end of the tube 30 is always insertedbetween the clamping members 10 and 12 before the tubular portion 42 is inserted over the joint.

When it is desired to dispense some of the fluid in the tube 30, the key member 40 is rotated. Rotation of the key member 40 winds the tube 30 upon the tubular portion 42. As the tube 30 is wound upon the tubular portion 42, the tube is pulled through the slot formed by the opening between the arcuate clamping members 10 and 12. As the tube 30 is wound upon the tubular portion 42, the plate 26 is forced farther from the bracket 22. As the plate 26 moves farther from the bracket 22, which increases the angle of divergence of the plate 26 with. respect to the bracket 22, the opening between the arcuate clamping members 10 and 12 becomes smaller. In fact, the opening between the clamping members 10 and 12 becomes so small that only the walls of the tube are allowed to pass through the opening.

So it may be understood that as the tube 30 is wound upon the tubular portion 42 of the key member 40, the

winding action increases the size of the coil formed by V As the coil of the tube material becomes greater upon the tubular portion 42, the coil moves outwardly farther toward the end of the plate 26. Thus, constant pressure is exerted between the clamping members 10 and 12. The same pressure is exerted between members 10 and 12 when the coil of material between the plate 26 and the bracket 22 is small or when the coil is large. The pressure exerted is always sufficient to force all of the fluid material from between the walls of the tube 30 when the walls are clamped between the clamping members 10 and 12. In other words, the pressure required to force the fluid material outwardly from between the clamping members 10 and 12 is always maintained.

It is a simple matter to obtain a desired amount of fluid from the collapsible tube 30 by means of the dispens- Patented Dec. 6, 1955 i the wing 44 in turning the key member 4t) provides a means which is easy to operate. The amount of fluid emanating from the mouth 33 of the tube 30 is controlled simply and easily.

After the supply of fluid material in the tube 30 has been exhausted, the walls of the tube are completely wound upon the tubular portion 42 of the key member 4!). The mouth 33 and a small portion of the tube 30 adjacent the mouth 33 of the tube 30 are all that remains on the outside of the clamping members and 12.

The empty tube is removed from the dispensing device in two steps. The key member 40 is first removed from the tube 30. The retaining pin 14 is then removed, disengaging the two clamping members 10 and'12. The coiled empty tube is then easily removed.

Another method of removing an empty tube 3% from the dispensing device is by removal of the key member 40 from within the coiled walls of the tube 30. The mouth 33 of the tube may then be grasped to pull the tube and to uncoil the tube as it is moved in a reverse direction through the slotted opening formed between the arcuate clamping members 10 and 12. The second method of removal of the empty tube requires only withdrawal of the key member from within the rolled walls of the tube. No other disassembly is necessary.

If a material is contained within the tube 30 which is hard to force out of the tube, the rotation of the key 40 is more difficult. As the rotation becomes more diffi cult, the coil of the empty portion of the tube pulls itself or moves toward the arcuate clamping members 10 and 12. As this occurs, there is a greater clamping force of the clamping members. Thus, there is automatic pressure control of the clamping members. If the material in the tube is hard to force out of the tube, the clamping action becomes greater. If the material in the tube is easily forced from the tube, the clamping action of the clamping members is not so great. By this means, the proper amount of pressure required to cleanly force the material from the tube is maintained.

Figure 6 discloses a preferred modification of the dispensing device. The modification is similar to the preferred embodiment except that clamping members and 52 are provided with rotatably mounted cylindrical rollers 54. The rollers 54 reduce the frictional'forces caused by the clamping and pulling of the walls of the tube 30 as the tube is wound upon the key member 40.

The preferred embodiment and the preferred modification of the dispensing device may be used mounted upon a wall or other object. The device may also be adapted to be held in a persons hands during the dispensing operation. The device may be operated and used equally well as a mounted dispensing device or as a manually retained dispensing device.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A dispenser for use in dispensing material from a collapsible tube having an opening in one end thereof, said dispenser including a main frame member terminating in an arcuate marginal portion, a second frame memher having an arcuate marginal portion adjacent the arcuate portion of the main frame member, said frame members being pivotally attached to each other adjacent the arcuate margins, the frame members having portions diverging from the pivotal attachment, and means for engaging the end of the tube opposite its opening for winding the tube while the tube extends between the arcuate margins of the frame members, said means being located between the diverging portions of the frame members so that as the tube is wound the wound portion exerts pressure against the diverging portions to firmly clamp the arcuate marginal portions against the sides of the tube.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the main frame member is provided with apertured marginal flanges extending at substantially right angles to the main body of the frame member, the other frame member having apertured arms overlapping the flanges and a pin extending through the apertures in the flanges and the arms to pivotally interconnect the frame members.

3. In a dispensing device for dispensing fluid material from a collapsible tube having a jointed sealed end, said dispensing device including the combination of a pair of clamping members, a pin pivotally attaching one clamping member to the other, the clamping members having diverging portions extending from the pin, and a key member having a tubular portion, the tubular portion having a longitudinal slot, the tubular portion being adapted to receive the jointed sealed end of the collapsible tube, the key member being adapted to fit between diverging portions to wind the collapsible tube upon the tubular portion of the key member.

4. In a device for dispensing material contained in a collapsible tube, said device including a pair of clamping members pivotally attached one to the other and having diverging extended portions, and a key member positioned between the extended portions and adapted to Wind the collapsible tube and to pull the collapsible tube between the clamping members, the winding of the collapsible tube forcing the clamping members one toward the other.

5. In a device for dispensing material contained in a collapsible tube, said device including movably attached clamping means provided with diverging extended portions, and winding means positioned intermediate the extended portions and adapted to wind the collapsible tube pulling the collapsible tube through the clamping means, the winding of the collapsible tube actuating exertion of pressure by the clamping means upon the collapsible tube.

6. In a device for supporting a collapsible tube containing fluid material and for dispensing fluid material from the collapsible tube, said device including a pair of clamping members pivotally attached one to the other, a mounting bracket attached to one of said clamping members, a plate attached to the other of said clamping members, and a key member positioned between the mounting bracket and the plate engageable with the collapsible tube to wind the collapsible tube, the clamping members being forced into clamping action by the posi tioning of the collapsible tube upon the key member.

7.. In a device for supporting a collapsible tube containing fluid material and for dispensing material from the collapsible tube, said device including a pair of clamping members pivotally movable one with respect to the other, a mounting bracket attached to one of said clamping members, a plate attached to the other of said clamping members, and a key member positioned between the mounting bracket and the plate to wind the collapsible tube, the key member being adapted to pull the collapsible tube between the clamping members and to coil the collapsible tube between the mounting bracket and the plate.

8. A device for supporting a collapsible tube containing fluid material and for dispensing material from the collapsible tube, said device including a pair of clamping members pivotally attached one to the other and adapted to receive the collapsible tube between them, each of said clamping members including a cylindrical roller rotatably attached to the clamping member, a mounting bracket attached to one of said clamping members, a plate attached to the other of said clamping members, and a key member positioned between the mounting bracket and the plate engaging the collapsible tube to wind the collapsible tube between the mounting bracket and the plate, the clamping members being forced into clamping action by the engagement of the collapsible tube by the key member between the mounting bracket and the plate.

9. A dispenser for use in dispensing material from a collapsible tube, said dispenser including a main frame member terminating in an arcuate marginal portion, a second frame member having an arcuate marginal portion adjacent the arcuate portion of the main frame member, said frame members being pivotally attached one to the other, the frame members having extending portions diverging from the pivotal attachment, and winding means for engaging the collapsible tube while the tube extends between the arcuate marginal portions, said winding means being positioned between the extending portions of the frame member so that as the tube is wound the Wound portion of the tube exerts pressure against the extending portion of the frame member firmly clamping the arcuate marginal portions against the sides of the tube.

10. A dispenser for use in dispensing material from a collapsible tube, said dispenser including a main frame member terminated in an arcuate marginal portion, a

second frame member having an arcuate marginal portion adjacent the arcuate portion of the main frame memher, a roller attached to earth of the marginal portions, said frame members being pivotally attached one to the other, the frame members having extending portions diverging from the pivotal attachment, and means for engaging the collapsible tube while the tube extends between the arcuate marginal portions and the rollers of the frame member, said means being positioned between the extending portions of the frame members so that as the tube is Wound the wound portion of the tube exerts pressure against the extending portions to firmly clamp the rollers of the arcuate marginal portions against the sides of the collapsible tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,826,189 Rothwell Oct. 6, 1931 1,913,759 Jacobson et a1 June 13, 1933 2,051,332 Ervin Aug. 18, 1936 2,066,245 Bauman Dec. 29, 1936 2,551,909 Soileau May 8, 1951 

